and Extension of the Merino Breed of Sheep. 351 



About the beginning of May, if the weather is fine, the (locks, while still on 

 their journey, are conducted to the Esquileos, or shearing-houses, which are nearest 

 to their respective roads. These houses arc built in the mountains, chiefly at 

 Segovia, Avila, Burgos, Soria, Cuen^a, &c. 



On this subject there are many particulars worthy of note. One is the vastness 

 of the Encerraderos, or houses of recepiion for the sheep, before and after shearing; 

 some of which are capable of containing 20,000 sheep at once. All those which 

 are intended to be shorn in one day, are kept in an adjoining building closely 

 shut, called a Sudadero, or sweating-house ; in which they are so crowded, as to 

 have scarcely room to move, or even to breathe. This practice, which has for its 

 pretended object an increased facility of shearing, is probably intended to augment, 

 by perspiraiion, the weight of the fleece, and therefore its price. To promote this 

 effect, some persons even agitate their flocks as much as possible within the 

 Sudadero. A further fraud of this kind is said to be practised, by the proprietors 

 of certain small flocks in the kingdom of Murcia, who, some days before shearing, 

 drive their flocks into the newly ploughed fields, in order that they may contract 

 as much as possible of dust and dirt. With the same view, the fleeces, when 

 shorn, are put into a damp warehouse, all the doors and windows of which are 

 closely stopped, so as not to admit of the least transmission of vapour. This ware- 

 house is not opened till the merchant, a few days afterwards, comes to weigh the 

 fleeces. 



One with another, each man shears fifteen sheep per day. If by accident the skin 

 is wounded, they drop on the part a little powdered charcoal, which, they say, tends 

 to heal the wound, and guard it against the fly. 



It is said that, after shearing, they formerly used to rub the body of the sheep all 

 over with an ochreous earth called almagra ; which was supposed to defend the 

 denuded skin against the various inclemencies of the air. This practice no 

 longer exists. 



It seems, however, that the Spanish flocks have occasionally suffered very much 

 after shearing. That of the Count del Campo Alange is reported to have lost five 

 or six thousand in a single night. In order to guard against tiiis evil, they keep 

 the Encerradero in bad weather full of sheep newly shorn, sometimes for two, or 

 three successive days, during which time they, designedly, avoid giving them any. 

 food whatever. 



